Diesels belong in anything they will fit in. There are no more "diesel" problems.Interesting. But not for me. Many years ago, a diesel fanatic friend talked me into buying a 1987 Mercedes diesel. Like the Delta 88 poster above, below 0F temperatures killed it and left me walking. That was enough for me. Never again. And there were other things I didn't like: maintenance was more expensive and fuel was messy, stinky and hard to find-- at least it was less expensive.
Diesel engines belong in trucks. I just don't see the benefit for cars anymore.
Back in the day, before the EPA declared war on diesels, they would get better mileage and last way longer than gas engines. The same EPA that is trying hard to kill diesels, forced manufacturers to vastly improve the gasoline engine for economy and low emissions. The benefit to the consumer has been better economy, power and longevity. Now that gas engines are so good, I just don't see the benefit of diesel.
There is a movement in Europe (long the bastion of diesel cars) to ban diesel engines completely. http://www.cheatsheet.com/automobiles/are-diesel-fuels-days-numbered.html/?a=viewall
IMHO electric and/or gas are the best choice for most folks.
Testdrive in a Diesel Cruze
2017 with leather package.
This was a short test drive. The plastic was still on the seats, just off the truck on Saturday.
Pros
Diesel knock is absent, just as advertised.
9 speed automatic shifts smoothly - double clutch technology works. You have to get on the "oil" to make it downshift forcibly enough to feel it.
Stop-start technology.
Diesel torque + 9 speeds - pretty good acceleration
Cons
Low pitch engine rumble is always there - in no way is this silent propulsion.
Normally I would go with the Volt but the choice is not so clearcut here. There's zero state incentives, I'd have to buy the Volt and get 0% financing to go along with a modest amount of manufacturer's incentives. Even with the fed tax credit it's stretching to make the number close enough.
This was a short test drive. The plastic was still on the seats, just off the truck on Saturday.
Pros
Diesel knock is absent, just as advertised.
9 speed automatic shifts smoothly - double clutch technology works. You have to get on the "oil" to make it downshift forcibly enough to feel it.
Stop-start technology.
Diesel torque + 9 speeds - pretty good acceleration
Cons
Low pitch engine rumble is always there - in no way is this silent propulsion.
Normally I would go with the Volt but the choice is not so clearcut here. There's zero state incentives, I'd have to buy the Volt and get 0% financing to go along with a modest amount of manufacturer's incentives. Even with the fed tax credit it's stretching to make the number close enough.
41 - 57 of 57 Posts
Diesels belong in anything they will fit in. There are no more "diesel" problems.
Coming this summer is the Equinox Diesel, GM has stated 40mpg on the highway but has not mentioned either city or combined...GM also didn't mention if that was FWD or AWD or even if the customer has a choice at all...Also unknown is the price, fairly high premium to take a base Cruze and add a diesel, MSRP $17,850 for a regular Cruze and a MSRP of $22,170 to add diesel...
Considering on the Chevy site there's $3K in bonus tags, that's either $3K off the purchase of the car OR the same full amount knocked off the entire lease, would still be cheaper to lease a regular ICE despite needing to spend more at the pump...
Considering on the Chevy site there's $3K in bonus tags, that's either $3K off the purchase of the car OR the same full amount knocked off the entire lease, would still be cheaper to lease a regular ICE despite needing to spend more at the pump...
You never met my '09 Jetta TDI.Diesels belong in anything they will fit in. There are no more "diesel" problems.
Interesting. Brand new, only on a couple models so far, so no one has much experience with it yet. I'd read about the GM/Ford ten speed, but not this one. I guess we'll have to see how it turns out over time.It's not a dual clutch.
This is the GM/Ford 9-speed. It's not a ZF.
Some comments on above comments:
Thanks for correcting me on the transmission - not a dual clutch. The shifts are still fast and smooth.
Price: the delta between a diesel auto and a comparable LT auto is about $2800 except the diesel has the 9 speed transmission vs. a 6.
Cold weather - I researched this and this appears not to be a problem. Doesn't get extremely cold here and diesel fuel is blended for the season.
I had a second test drive in a car the same as the first except for the color, kept it longer and was solo so I could wring the car out a little more.
The engine was quieter than I remembered from the first drive. Actually, really quiet.
0-30 feels very Volt like, the engine is responsive to the pedal and diesel have the low end torque. There's nice acceleration up to 80 mph.
Handling and ride are fine. Went well over the recommended speeds on some circular on/off ramps and the Assurance tires didn't complain. Nice ride over rough roads too.
Lastly, fuel economy - 50F day, 600 ft. ASL, light headwind, no hills. Set cruise to 75 mph. Gasometer stabilized at 45 mpg. Warm weather, air up the tires, broken in car, I can see 50 mpg as very possible.
Hoping that Chevrolet will do something about Volt pricing before I have to make a decision but I just have this gut feeling that the diesel has been done right, mechanically.
Thanks for correcting me on the transmission - not a dual clutch. The shifts are still fast and smooth.
Price: the delta between a diesel auto and a comparable LT auto is about $2800 except the diesel has the 9 speed transmission vs. a 6.
Cold weather - I researched this and this appears not to be a problem. Doesn't get extremely cold here and diesel fuel is blended for the season.
I had a second test drive in a car the same as the first except for the color, kept it longer and was solo so I could wring the car out a little more.
The engine was quieter than I remembered from the first drive. Actually, really quiet.
0-30 feels very Volt like, the engine is responsive to the pedal and diesel have the low end torque. There's nice acceleration up to 80 mph.
Handling and ride are fine. Went well over the recommended speeds on some circular on/off ramps and the Assurance tires didn't complain. Nice ride over rough roads too.
Lastly, fuel economy - 50F day, 600 ft. ASL, light headwind, no hills. Set cruise to 75 mph. Gasometer stabilized at 45 mpg. Warm weather, air up the tires, broken in car, I can see 50 mpg as very possible.
Hoping that Chevrolet will do something about Volt pricing before I have to make a decision but I just have this gut feeling that the diesel has been done right, mechanically.
there all fine till your neighbor fires it up at 4 am in -30 weather
then its klack klack klack
I'm sure it was parked in my livingroom
then its klack klack klack
I'm sure it was parked in my livingroom
480,000 Volkswagen owners would disagree with you.Diesels belong in anything they will fit in. There are no more "diesel" problems.
You are correct, however you cannot get a diesel in a lower trim while with the non-diesel you can go two trims below (L trim and LS trim)...You don't even a ton of the standard features going between L (lowest trim) and LT (two trims above L) trims however you get the ability to add options...With a L trim you cannot even add an automatic transmission...But even the L has the rear camera, 7" screen, power windows/locks so a L isn't stripped...Price: the delta between a diesel auto and a comparable LT auto is about $2800 except the diesel has the 9 speed transmission vs. a 6.
The TDI owners I knew seemed eager to tell me how great their cars were, and how it was even better if you did the delete emissions mod if you weren't in a smog test area. Now they're anguished. People these days.480,000 Volkswagen owners would disagree with you.
Yeah, it was amazing how many owners were eagerly advocating defeating/removing the emissions (always a violation of Federal Law, whether the area has emissions testing or not!) and how many are furious at VW for deceiving them and want a big payout.The TDI owners I knew seemed eager to tell me how great their cars were, and how it was even better if you did the delete emissions mod if you weren't in a smog test area. Now they're anguished. People these days.
It's possible that VW has a couple completely different crowds of owners involved who honestly come by the different feelings, but a lot of the discussion felt kinda hypocritical to me. At least we're getting a decent DCFC network out of the mess.
Most of them would have kept their cars if it wasn't for the payout. I'd love one of the cars they bought back. Only tree huggers truly cared. Everyone else saw, I get what I paid for the car and I drove it for 2-3 years... Sure, I'll take a check. You made it completely out of context. I'd take one of those, delete it and tune it and enjoy it for years and years.480,000 Volkswagen owners would disagree with you.
As one of those "tree huggers", I am happy that you and 480,000 others will not have that opportunity.Most of them would have kept their cars if it wasn't for the payout. I'd love one of the cars they bought back. Only tree huggers truly cared. Everyone else saw, I get what I paid for the car and I drove it for 2-3 years... Sure, I'll take a check. You made it completely out of context. I'd take one of those, delete it and tune it and enjoy it for years and years.
you may want to hold off on your glee,,vw sold alot more polluting diesels from 1996 on up,,and alot of them are still running.2 in my yard(97,03) w/ 300k each still do.As one of those "tree huggers", I am happy that you and 480,000 others will not have that opportunity.
http://myimiev.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3156&start=20As one of those "tree huggers", I am happy that you and 480,000 others will not have that opportunity.
A lot of the buybacks are sitting in the yard of a future "mobility " company
That car company may we'll sell the cars back into the market after a period of time
Back in 2012 I test drove a '13 TDI Passat (dealer didn't have a Jetta) and the car must have thought I was the EPA because the fuel economy was nothing to write home about. Eventually got the Volt.
Perusing cruzetalk, I see a lot of comments that the tiny turbos like the 1.4L run better on mid-grade or premium fuel, especially when temperatures are warm. Of course, it's a marketing disaster to require or recommend premium fuel on an "economy car" so the ECM has to have maps for chugging along on 87. So, if someone is looking for another excuse to get the diesel, diesel fuel is substantially cheaper than 89 or 91 octane.
Perusing cruzetalk, I see a lot of comments that the tiny turbos like the 1.4L run better on mid-grade or premium fuel, especially when temperatures are warm. Of course, it's a marketing disaster to require or recommend premium fuel on an "economy car" so the ECM has to have maps for chugging along on 87. So, if someone is looking for another excuse to get the diesel, diesel fuel is substantially cheaper than 89 or 91 octane.
Diesel fuel is not always cheaper than Premium. I recall a few years back where Diesel fuel was 20 cent a gallon or so more than premium, even though diesel fuel is less refined that even regular grade gas
41 - 57 of 57 Posts
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